Out of the box homemade gifts

It's that time of year again! Are you ready? Well, if you are on a budget and need to think up some good last minute presents that won't cost you much but will make an impression, you are in the right spot. Here's a quick list of great gift ideas that will please just about anybody!

1. A car kit: I know you are asking, what do you mean a car kit? Doesn't sound that glamorous eh? Well, wait! Many people own their own cars and they often need things in their car that they often run out of...well, why not put them together a little car kit. Take a little basket, or perhaps a small storage bin and add some car goodies such as; tissue packets, flashlight, tire pressure gauge, pens, small notebook, bag of quarters, air fresheners, wet wipes, maybe even a couple packs of gum! Be creative. Think about things you use most in your car. Put it all together and pop a big bow on it. They will be eternally grateful and it is such a unique idea!

2. A DVD: This is an idea I thought of for my son's teacher. It does take some technical skills and equipment; video camera and video editing software. I decided to put together a few clips of video of my son "teaching" his teacher something. The video started with an "Introduction" where I had him list a few things he learned from her and now as a gift in return, he would teach her a few things that he is good at. He's only 5 so I stuck with things he could really enjoy talking about and made it entirely silly. I made a clip of him teaching "how to be goofy" for stress relief. He taught her how he stands in front of the mirror and makes silly faces. He taught her about laughing yoga and that she should do it every day. I also made a clip of him singing a song to his teacher. Then I used his own personal artwork as the DVD cover and inserted in to a plastic cover and titled it. Below the title, I noted "Bonus Feature: Comic Relief." Hopefully his teacher will get a kick out if it and enjoy something very personal right to her.

The truth is you can make a video about anyone to share with someone. It is such a nice thing to do to share some knowledge you may have; such as cooking skills or knitting skills. Whatever...or even make a video just to make someone laugh. Make a video telling jokes or singing a goofy song. If I had a video of someone doing something funny, I'd pop it in all the time. Its like a comedy you watch over and over.

3. A game: This is another creative one for ya. Yes, make up your own game and put it together in a little box for someone. Make it personal. Take cues from games already on the market but change it up a bit. Write up your own rules! Making a game is really simple. You just have to think "out of the box" and then figure out how to put it in a box. If you are not crafty, go simple. Get index cards and draw pictures on them to make a memory game. Of course you need to remember to draw identical pictures on 2 cards and make at least 10 sets of 2. Or how about making personalized playing cards. You can use a computer or by hand, design cool looking kings and queens then paste them on playing cards. Remember, it is the thought here that matters. People love personalized things!

4. Old parts thinga-majig: We all have them laying around, tons of buttons, screws, paperclips, just plain old thingies. Well, make something cool! Take a plain frame or mirror and decorate around that baby. One of the neatest thing I have seen is when someone took nuts and bolts and hot glued them around a simple wooden frame. You can use anything...old crayons, beads, caps to things...another neat thing was a mirror that was totally framed with bottle caps.

5. Inspiration book: Everyone could use one of these. Purchase a cheap notebook, decorate the cover; using either fabric or some kind of designed writing or scrapbook paper. Then inside, fill the book with inspirational quotes, one per page. Hand write them. Then, scattered in between add some photos for that person, either of them with family or friends, or scenic images that would be pleasing and relaxing. Add in some nice memories of that person, like "I remember when you took me swimming at the lake and we splashed and laughed for hours..." It is so nice to have something so personal that you can have at your bedside table or somewhere when you can look through it every so often to cheer you up!

7. Reusable market bags: Skip the supermarket labeled bags and go to the craft store. Scoop up a few plain canvas bags and go home and decorate. Again, make it personal. Decorate with paints or writings. Draw something neat on it that that person is really into. Is it Grandma who loves sailboats? Draw and paint some beautiful sailboats on there! Make it special. She will never forget those bags when she goes to the market.